The Winter Queen of Havenshire

Chapter 15: THE ROUGHS

The wilderness of the North was once wild and free. The people of the North were feral and deadly. None but those of the North dared live there.

Then one day a soldier and his family built a fort. The North railed against the fort. Many died, but the fort would not fall.

After decades, the North accepted the fort as one of their own. Those from the South because of the danger of the North named the fort, the Roughs. The fort became a home for those who sought adventure, for those who sought battle, and for those whose plans were not of the lawful type.

For the most unsavory of those who came to the Roughs, there was only one bar and inn they could stay at the true Roughs of the Roughs. Those who traded in secrets and stolen goods often met there. Those searching for men and weapons often found the worst of men and best of weapons.

General Thrushbeard's one hope was that some clue to Ambrosia could be found at the Roughs. He and the twins would remain behind with horses. They would be ready for a quick retreat.

Corban entered the bar. Ferine stood to his right while the Hammer remained behind him. The others were already there.

Crow sat on a stool by the bar. His head bent forward leaning against a three quarter filled mug. He seemed to be half asleep despite all the noise.

Rojier laughed loudly as lay his cards on the table. With arms outstretched, he pulled the coins he won closer to him. He glanced at Corban and quickly returned to the game in front of him.

Corban walked to the front bar. Hammer stood by the door with his weapon, Rainmaker, resting on the ground. Ferine stayed by Corban's side.

"What can I do for you, lad?" the barkeep asked. "You're a bit young for a place like this."

"I am searching for information."

"Information comes for a price. What do you want to know? Depending on what you needs to know, for the right price I can direct you to who may know."

Corban tossed two gold coins onto the front bar. The barkeeps eyes lit up. He grabbed one coin and bit it. He smiled.

"Do you have a name?"

"Corban Steele."

"What do you want to know?"

"We're looking for someone, a girl."

"Girls can be cheap or expensive. It just depends on the type of girl you want and what you want them for."

The moment of truth had come. Would this be easy or hard? He looked to Ferine. She nodded. They were ready.

"I and my friends are searching for the kidnapped daughter of Lord Fonce. We search for Ambrosia and the Winter Queen."

Silence filled the room. The Winter Queen meant death. Those in the Roughs knew it.

Rojier noticed the silence and shut his mouth. All eyes turned to Corban.

"I have some information that can help you, but there's a hefty price for it."

"Name your price, barkeep."

"Your life."

"Now that's not being reasonable. I was willing to pay for it fairly. Do you not know who I am and the company I keep?"

"All I know, lad, is that you are a dead man. Take care of them."

The men rose. Their weapons were in hand. There was a calm before the storm broke.